MONTEZUMA - People and projects were the main focus of the Montezuma Town Board Wednesday night.
The board reviewed last month's minutes focusing on the bio-diesel project presented by David Colgrove, Auburn BioDiesel Corp. president.
Back in March, ABDC's plan to produce biodiesel fuel from soybeans was approved for application by the county Industrial Development Authority for specific funding in some 20 categories.
The three-phase reconstruction project includes 570 acres of the former Clinton Corn/Archer Daniels Midland corn syrup processing facility in Montezuma.
Phase I, a $70 million project, will establish a 30-million bushel soybean crushing operation to produce 30 million gallons of biodiesel fuel.
Once the old ADM facility is purchased, it will be converted to biodiesel to make oil and meal. Water supplies for the facility will be put in place and the business would start up with a minimum of 78 employees to be increased to 200 at full operation.
Renovations could bring in such jobs as construction, plumbers and iron workers. Colgrove said ADM intends to stay in Montezuma for 20 years but would build a new facility during that time.
The town will receive e-mail updates on the project's progress by the 15th of each month.
The board also heard a request from planning board chairman Joseph Verdi to inform the agricultural representative on the board, Craig Cook, that he needs to attend meetings. Verdi said Cook hadn't returned phone calls or answered any letters informing him of meeting times and dates.
“He was wondering when the meetings were,” Gary Saroodis, town supervisor, said. “He was probably making hay. That's what happens when you get some one who works in agriculture, he works in the summertime.”
The town also decided on hiring a new water district operator. The water person will receive $12.50 per hour to start, with top pay at $13.75 per hour. A position in the highway department was also available, but highway superintendent Richard Smith suggested hiring Jeffrey Dawson.
“I'm just waiting for it to snow,” Smith quipped.
The town offices also need someone to clean them regularly. The board agreed to pay $40 per cleaning session, initially on a weekly basis. Names of interested parties were suggested, and one will be offered the job at the proposed fee.
In other news:
• Budget workshops, begin at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1 with at least one more before the end of October.
• Smith reported damage to bleachers and picnic tables in the park. He suggested buying aluminum equipment such as Conquest's and asked what could be done to get children to stop using the bleachers for skateboard ramps and tossing beer cans around. The board will suggest more patrols by the sheriff.
• Residents asked about whether Montezuma could attend discussions between Auburn and surrounding towns on consolidation of water / sewer lines. Montezuma gets its water from the county and residents complain about the cost and still having to chlorinate their water.
• New water regulations will be sent in the mail. The main issue is making water meters accessible to the readers.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Back in March, ABDC's plan to produce biodiesel fuel from soybeans was approved for application by the county Industrial Development Authority for specific funding in some 20 categories.
The three-phase reconstruction project includes 570 acres of the former Clinton Corn/Archer Daniels Midland corn syrup processing facility in Montezuma.
Phase I, a $70 million project, will establish a 30-million bushel soybean crushing operation to produce 30 million gallons of biodiesel fuel.
Once the old ADM facility is purchased, it will be converted to biodiesel to make oil and meal. Water supplies for the facility will be put in place and the business would start up with a minimum of 78 employees to be increased to 200 at full operation.
Renovations could bring in such jobs as construction, plumbers and iron workers. Colgrove said ADM intends to stay in Montezuma for 20 years but would build a new facility during that time.
The town will receive e-mail updates on the project's progress by the 15th of each month.
The board also heard a request from planning board chairman Joseph Verdi to inform the agricultural representative on the board, Craig Cook, that he needs to attend meetings. Verdi said Cook hadn't returned phone calls or answered any letters informing him of meeting times and dates.
“He was wondering when the meetings were,” Gary Saroodis, town supervisor, said. “He was probably making hay. That's what happens when you get some one who works in agriculture, he works in the summertime.”
The town also decided on hiring a new water district operator. The water person will receive $12.50 per hour to start, with top pay at $13.75 per hour. A position in the highway department was also available, but highway superintendent Richard Smith suggested hiring Jeffrey Dawson.
“I'm just waiting for it to snow,” Smith quipped.
The town offices also need someone to clean them regularly. The board agreed to pay $40 per cleaning session, initially on a weekly basis. Names of interested parties were suggested, and one will be offered the job at the proposed fee.
In other news:
• Budget workshops, begin at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1 with at least one more before the end of October.
• Smith reported damage to bleachers and picnic tables in the park. He suggested buying aluminum equipment such as Conquest's and asked what could be done to get children to stop using the bleachers for skateboard ramps and tossing beer cans around. The board will suggest more patrols by the sheriff.
• Residents asked about whether Montezuma could attend discussions between Auburn and surrounding towns on consolidation of water / sewer lines. Montezuma gets its water from the county and residents complain about the cost and still having to chlorinate their water.
• New water regulations will be sent in the mail. The main issue is making water meters accessible to the readers.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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